'Incognito Bandit' Stopped At Dulles Airport, Suspected in 16 Bank Heists

HERNDON, VA — A Boston man known as the "Incognito Bandit" was arrested Friday at Dulles International Airport in Virginia as he attempted to board a South Africa-bound flight, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Albert Taderera, 36, of Brighton, Massachusetts, is thought to be involved in 16 bank robberies in Massachusetts since February 2015.

On Thursday night, at about 10:15 p.m., the FBI learned Taderera booked a Friday morning flight from Dulles International Airport to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was learned that Taderera was en route Friday morning to Dulles out of Logan Airport, having changed his flight for Friday evening to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Taderera was arrested before boarding the flight. Taderera is scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Virginia on Monday.

The FBI last year doubled the reward relating to the "Bandit's" capture to $20,000. In February 2016, FBI Boston head Harold H. Shaw said the organization was concerned about his "increasingly brazen and violent behavior."

According to court documents, 16 banks were robbed in the Boston area between February 2015 and March 2017, and police suspect Taderera was the robber who was careful to disguise himself.

The robber in most cases was covered in a dark hooded sweatshirt, a dark face mask/sunglasses, dark gloves, and dark clothing. In each instance the robber made verbal demands for the money. The robber in many of the robberies displayed what tellers described as a black semi-automatic handgun.

All of the robberies occurred in suburban setting near wooded areas of foliage. Witnesses in many instances reported the robber leaving the bank and entering those wooded areas.

On March 16, Concord Massachusetts Police saw a black BMW sedan outside a local bank and noted Taderera fit the description of the person responsible for the 16 robberies. Police determined the BMW's registration was revoked and had it towed and inventoried.

On March 22, Taderera called the tow company and was informed his BMW was in police custody.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Attorney's Office